In the front row, Dom cut a rugged picture in his suit. He smiled brightly at Hudson. Sloane sat beside him, sleek and debonair in his tuxedo, and next to him, Ash sniffed—very macho-like of course—and wrapped an arm around Cael, who sported a wide, boyish grin. Sergeant Maddock beamed proudly at Hudson from beside Cael. Everyone who meant everything to him was here. His family.

  Just before he reached the altar, Hudson caught a whiff of a familiar scent. This time, instead of sending him into a panic, Hudson smiled. His heart swelled, and tears blurred his vision. The thought might seem silly, but it was his wedding day, and if he wanted to believe Alfie was here in spirit, he had the right.

  Thomas kissed the back of Hudson’s hand before he went off to join Julia, though not before winking at Seb. Hudson let out a dreamy sigh when Seb reached for him, and everyone chuckled. Hudson couldn’t help it. Seb looked incredible in his gray three-piece suit and matching tie. It accentuated his broad shoulders and expansive chest. His green eyes sparkled, and Seb’s roguish grin Hudson loved so much had the butterflies in his stomach fluttering wildly.

  They faced each other, Hudson’s hands in Seb’s larger, stronger ones. The music softened, and Father McByrne began the ceremony. It was beautiful, unlike anything Hudson could have imagined. The Therian’s lyrical voice spoke of undying love, a future of togetherness, friendship, loyalty, and laughter. As Hudson and Seb faced an uncertain future, riddled with challenges, and—unbeknown to Father McByrne—most likely bullets, they gripped each other tight, knowing whatever came their way, they would persevere, together. They came close to giving in to their emotions and tears on more than one occasion, but they laughed softly instead and continued until the rings were exchanged.

  Hudson’s ring was a simple narrow silver band, but inside the word Lobito was engraved in scripted letters. It filled Hudson’s heart with joy, and judging by the tear that rolled down Seb’s cheek, Hudson would hazard a guess his mate was pleased with the engraved inscription in his own ring. No matter what happened, those two words would never change.

  Always yours.

  Father McByrne pronounced them married, and everyone cheered as Seb grabbed Hudson and dipped him. Hudson laughed, holding on tight as Seb kissed him. The sweet, tender kiss soon gave way to a heated one, and their family and friends whooped.

  Seb chuckled and lifted Hudson back. He kissed Hudson’s cheek before murmuring in his ear, “Always yours, lobito.”

  “Always,” Hudson replied, turning his face to kiss Seb again. He smiled up at Seb and placed a hand to his cheek. “Forever isn’t long enough, darling.”

  Seb took Hudson’s hand and placed it to his lips for a kiss. “Guess we’ll just have to make the most of every moment.”

  They were rushed by their friends and family, hugs and kisses all around, before the music picked up, and the roof was transformed into a dance floor before Hudson had a chance to blink. Lou was certainly a force to be reckoned with. Everyone talked and laughed, teased, and ate good food. Hudson and Seb cut the cake, and unsurprisingly Dex ended up with a face full of frosting thanks to Ash. Seb’s deep rumble of a laugh was the sweetest sound Hudson had ever heard. He realized he’d never been happier than he was at that moment.

  Lou’s catering was exquisite, and they stuffed themselves full of delicious cake. It was extraordinary how quickly the man had been able to pull all this together. Hudson tried his hardest not to laugh when Dex said he wanted a donut wedding cake. He was rather certain Dex was joking, but the look on poor Lou’s face said Lou didn’t think so.

  “I would sooner walk into a bear Therian sex club naked and covered in honey than allow that monstrosity near a wedding.”

  Dex blinked at him. “First, I had no idea you were so kinky. Second, I’m the groom. It’s my wedding. You’re supposed to give me what I want.”

  Lou arched an eyebrow at him. “If you were any other client, yes. As it’s you, the answer is a resounding no.”

  They all laughed, and Dex flipped them off before he was distracted by more food.

  “Congratulations, both of you.” Maddock gave each of them a fierce hug. “It’s time for me to head off and leave the festivities to the youngsters.”

  “Thank you for coming.” Hudson beamed at him before turning to Darla, Julia, and Thomas, who were also getting ready to go. This was more activity than Thomas was used to, and Hudson understood. The fact he’d been here for the ceremony was more than Hudson could have hoped for. Thomas was astounding.

  “You call me if you need anything,” Hudson told them, and they promised they would. Julia gave a sniff, and Hudson brought her into his embrace, letting his cheek rest against her head.

  “My darling,” Julia said, squeezing Hudson tight. “I’m so happy you’re home.”

  Hudson closed his eyes, basking in her maternal love before he released her to hug Darla and then Thomas. Rafe was taking them home, his body starting to ache from all the physical exertion. Nina looked torn, and Rafe told her to stay, but Hudson could see she was worried about Rafe, so he kissed her cheek and insisted she accompany her boyfriend.

  “He needs you,” Hudson whispered in her ear. “I’ll always be here for you.”

  Nina threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. She kissed his cheek, murmuring a sweet thank-you before waving good-bye to everyone.

  After eating his weight in flaky mini pastries, Dex dragged Hudson and Seb onto the dance floor. As per Dex’s request, or most likely sneakiness, they were confronted with every typical wedding party dance, from the hustle to the electric slide, but there was nothing, nothing like seeing Ash trying to dance to a song Dex called “Gangnam Style.” Seb laughed so hard he was crying, and Dex was on the floor gasping for breath. Thankfully, Ash had drunk enough champagne he just flipped them off and called Dex a giant dork.

  Hudson’s feet hurt from all the dancing, and his face was sore from laughing so much, but he kept going. Everyone was having such a wonderful time. He hadn’t seen his friends in such good spirits in a long time. Dom asked Hudson to dance, and Hudson accepted.

  “You have a very sappy smile on your face,” Hudson commented, laughing when Dom blushed. He wasn’t one to get bashful or sentimental.

  “I can’t help it. My boy’s happy, and that’s all I wanted for him. For you guys. He’s nuts about you.”

  “I’ll tell you a little secret.” Hudson leaned in to whisper. “I’m rather fond of him too.”

  Dom chuckled and shook his head. “You two are such nerds. You belong together.”

  Hudson thought so too. “Thank you, again, for saving my life.”

  “Don’t mention it,” Dom grumbled. Hudson laughed, and Dom shook his head. “No, really, don’t mention it. Your husband keeps giving me these funny looks since it happened.”

  Husband. Hudson certainly liked the sound of that. He glanced over at Seb, who was grinning wide at them.

  “See?” Dom turned his gaze back to Hudson. “It’s creeping me out, man.”

  Hudson laughed. “He’s just grateful. Don’t worry, I’m certain he’ll be back to threatening you with imminent demise in no time.”

  “Good.” Dom nodded curtly, as if the matter was settled. Hudson wondered if Dom knew how sweet he and Seb were, always griping and growling at each other, but the moment one of them was hurt or in trouble, they were fussing over each other like a couple of mother hens. It was adorable.

  Soon Hudson had danced with almost everyone, and by the end of the evening, only Lou, Bradley, Dex, and Sloane were left. The sun was rising, and they all sat, each huddled with their sweetheart as the sky changed colors. Hudson stroked Seb’s nape, his tie a casualty of a conga line gone terribly wrong. It had started off well but ended with everyone on their arses. Unsurprisingly, Dex and Ash were the culprits.

  Lou and Bradley excused themselves, going off under the pretense of checking on things downstairs, but Hudson had a feeling they just wanted to get a little frisky now that the festivities were over.

  Seb stretched. He kissed the top of Hudson’s head before getting up, his suit jacket long since removed and lying on the back of his chair. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, the top buttons of his white shirt undone. Heavens, but he looked gorgeous. “I need to hit the little tiger’s room. I’ll be right back.”

  Hudson chuckled and smacked Seb’s arse as he passed in front of him. Seb swatted his hand playfully, his grin wicked.

  “Hey now. None of that until the honeymoon.”

  Hudson scoffed. “Who are you trying to kid, Sebastian? All I have to do is look at you and you’ll drop your trousers.”

  Sloane laughed and jutted a thumb in Dex’s direction. “Sounds like someone I know.”

  “Please,” Dex said with a snicker. A mischievous gleam came into his eyes as he tapped the end of Sloane’s nose. “You know you love it when I make you purr.”

  Sloane cleared his throat, his cheeks going rosy.

  Seb laughed on his way to the stairs, and Dex turned to Hudson. “So where are you guys going on your honeymoon?”

  “Hmm, I’m not sure. We haven’t really discussed it. Perhaps a lovely cabin up in the mountains, where we could run in our Therian forms and get cozy in front of the fire. What about you two? Have you decided where you’re going?”

  “Somewhere in Europe,” Sloane said before poking Dex playfully in his side, making him squirm. “Dex can’t seem to make up his mind.”

  “Europe is a big place, man. Preferably somewhere we won’t freeze our balls off.”

  Sloane nodded. “I agree.”

  They chatted about various places in Europe, and Hudson offered his opinion of the many cities he’d visited before moving to the States. Dex and Sloane seemed in agreement over the weather. They wanted to swim together, and Sloane wanted somewhere Therian-friendly.

  Hudson glanced over at the door to the stairs. “I wonder what could be taking him so long?”

  “He’s a big guy,” Dex said with a shrug. “And he did eat a whole lot of food. Just saying.”

  Sloane groaned, and Hudson blinked at him. “I’m… not sure how to respond to that.”

  “Welcome to my world,” Sloane muttered before shaking his head at Dex, his amber eyes lighting up with amusement. “Babe, I don’t think you and Hudson have reached that stage in your relationship.” That earned him a playful punch in the shoulder. “I keep telling you. No one wants to discuss bowel movements with you.”

  “Dude, the guy spends most of his days examining corpses. You’re telling me he’s going to get grossed out by a little poo talk?”

  “He’s right,” Hudson agreed. “Though I have no notion as to why you’d wish to discuss my husband’s bowel movements.”

  “Husband. Aw.” Dex put his hand to his heart.

  “You’re such a softie,” Hudson told Dex as he stood. “I’m going to go check on him.” He left Dex and Sloane to their debate on how far along in a relationship people had to be before certain bodily functions should be discussed, and headed downstairs. Maybe Seb stopped to chat with Lou and Bradley. When he reached the second floor, his heart plummeted. Seb lay sprawled on his back in the center of the floor, gasping for breath.

  “Seb!” Hudson ran over and dropped to his knees, then cupped Seb’s reddened face. Seb’s lips were turning purple, his eyes wide and filled with fear. “Oh God, Sebastian, please.”

  Hudson checked Seb’s airway, but there was no obstruction. Seb’s pupils were blown, and he made horrible wheezing sounds as he tried to breathe. Checking him over, Hudson couldn’t find any signs of an abrasion, cut, injection, nothing. Despite the redness in his face, there was no swelling, and Seb didn’t have any allergies they knew of. The symptoms were all over the place, and Hudson was having a difficult time figuring out what was causing Seb’s rapidly deteriorating condition.

  Seb’s fingers curled around Hudson’s arms, digging into his flesh, his eyes going wider. He was trying to speak, but that was only making things worse. Was it poison? Whatever it was, it was working its way through his system. “Hold on, darling. I’m going to—”

  Hudson was jerked to his feet and spun around to face a large lion Therian dressed in a black military uniform, one Hudson was unfamiliar with. He’d opened his mouth to ask the man what the hell he’d done to Seb, when he saw several other Therians dressed the same enter the room. How had they gotten into Dekatria? Oh God, Lou, Bradley… Please let them be okay.

  “You’re coming with us, Dr. Colbourn.”

  “The hell I am,” Hudson spat. He pulled back a fist, only to be spun around, an arm thrown around his neck in a chokehold. He glanced over at Seb, who had been trying to roll over when one of the men kicked him in the stomach. “No! Please. I’ll do whatever you want. Just help him!”

  “I’m afraid we can’t let your husband live. So sorry about the honeymoon.”

  “You son of a bitch! what did you do to him?” Hudson’s fangs elongated as he clawed at the lion Therian’s arm. “If he dies, you’re going to have to kill me too, because I’m going to tear your throat out!”

  “Easy, little wolf. This will be over before you know it. Well, over for him. You’re too valuable to our boss. For now,” the man sneered. He clamped a hand over Hudson’s mouth as one of the other men approached with a syringe. “Nice and quiet now, Doc. Let’s not alert your friends, or we’ll have to kill them too.”

  Hudson bit down on the flesh of the man’s gloved hand, earning him a snarl and enough room to thrust his elbow back. With the man’s tactical vest, it did little, but Hudson freed his mouth long enough to scream Dex’s name. Few knew that Dex’s hearing was better than all the Therians in this room. Combined.

  “Whatever happens next is on your hands, Doctor. We wanted to do this the easy way.”

  The door behind the bar slammed open, and a man wearing a black mask and blue suit came out shooting. A bullet hit Hudson’s captor in the forehead. The man crumpled, and the uniformed Therians scrambled. Hudson dropped to the floor as bullets tore the room apart. He crawled over to Seb, who lay on his side, his eyes glazing over.

  “Please, darling. You can’t leave me. Stay with me.” Hudson pulled out his phone, but he had no signal. “Bloody wankers!” The bastards surely had something to do with it.

  Seb grabbed Hudson’s collar and jerked him down just before a uniformed Therian flew over them, smashing through the door leading to the corridor. Bollocks. Looking back, Hudson smiled at Dex beating the pulp out of another one of their attackers, Sloane at his back, claws out, and fangs elongated.

  Someone grabbed Hudson’s wrist, and he found himself staring into piercing blue eyes.

  “Here,” the man growled, thrusting something into Hudson’s hand and tapping Seb’s neck. It was a Therian injector. Dozens of questions vied for Hudson’s attention, but he didn’t waste time on those. Trusting a masked man who could very well be handing him Seb’s death sentence was madness, but Seb was already dying. Going with his gut, Hudson pressed the injector to Seb’s neck, said a little prayer, and pulled the trigger. Seb arched his back violently, his body going into spasms before his mouth opened and a fierce cry tore from his lips. Hudson tossed the injector aside and cupped Seb’s face. The red was subsiding, and he gasped, breathing in deeply, air finally making it into his lungs.

  The man in the suit hadn’t moved from Hudson’s side, skillfully and elegantly beating into submission anyone who drew close. His movements were calculated, precise, as if he were simply swatting a pesky fly. More men must have been waiting downstairs, because they flocked up the stairs in droves. Seb groaned, and Hudson put his arm around Seb’s back, getting ready to help him up, when a half dozen Therians headed in their direction, ready to take aim. Seb coughed and wheezed as he pushed at Hudson.

  “Go, get… out… of here.”

  “Are you mad? I’m not leaving you.”

  The man in the suit unbuttoned his jacket and pulled out the two firearms tucked into the double shoulder holster attached to the harness strapped around him. He fired, one bullet per Therian, never hesitating, never missing.

  “Go,” the man ordered Hudson.

  “I’m not leaving him,” Hudson spat back. It would be a cold day in hell before he left Seb behind. Dex and Sloane were busy with four Therians they’d unarmed, and Hudson was surprised by the ferocity and skill with which they fended off the intruders. They’d certainly not learned those moves at the THIRDS. The two worked together, Dex using Sloane’s bigger, heavier frame to jump off, leaping in the air and coming down with a fist against a larger Therian’s head. The man crumpled to the floor with one blow.

  “Always so bloody stubborn,” the man grumbled under his breath, but Hudson heard him. He was English.

  Oh God, is it possible…? “Wolf?”

  The man grunted, and Hudson turned to Seb, who was sitting up. “We need to get you away from here.” Seb was still weak, but thankfully he was alive. Wolf had saved Seb’s life. How? Why? A boom shook the floor, causing dust to come down from the roof and smoke to spread through the room. Hudson fell onto Seb as the men rained down around them. Coughing and waving the gray smoke from in front of his face, Hudson glared up at Wolf.

  “Did you just use an explosive device in here?”

  Wolf shrugged, his blue eyes alight with amusement. “Just a little one.”

  “You’re out of your mind.” Hudson was hardly about to admit it had been effective. The room was littered with unconscious and dead Therians.

  Wolf winked at Hudson before taking off. Only he never made it to the door. Dex slammed a fist into Wolf’s face. He staggered back, and before he could get his bearings, Dex tackled him to the floor.

  “Dex, wait!” Hudson scrambled to his feet. “He saved Seb’s life!”

  Dex and Wolf tussled, and Dex snagged a hold of Wolf’s mask and tugged it off. He straddled Wolf and raised a fist to punch him, but Hudson caught his arm.